Borderway Agri-Expo Open British Blue Calf Show

Friday 1st November 2013

The Border British Blue Club staged their sixth annual open calf show
on Friday 1st November 2013 at the Borderway Agri-Expo 2013
at Borderway Mart, Carlisle when there was a catalogued entry of 61
calves. This was made up of 25 males and 36 females all UK born pedigree
registered calves born on or after 1st October 2012.

The club would like to thank the sponsors of this event, Davidson’s
Animal Feeds who supplied the prize money and the club provided the
rosettes and coffee on the stand.

Trophies - David Dickinson Memorial Trophy for the overall champion
calf; BK Ryder Memorial Trophy for the reserve overall champion calf;
Bellas Perpetual Trophy for the best animal opposite sex to the champion,
Norbreck Genetics Perpetual Trophy for the breeder with the most points
and the Pendle plaque for the winner of the young handler class presented
by the Hartley family.

Chairman Steve Pattinson would like to thank all those who supplied
cattle for the British Blue stand at the Agri-Expo they certainly generated
a lot of interest and were a great spectacle for the breed. He would
also like to say a big thank you to all those who helped on the Blue
stand. It was very much appreciated.

The Judge, Stephen Brough, (Carrock
Herd) who is well respected in
the breed, did an outstanding job judging 11 classes of some of the
best and brightest prospects the breed has yet seen. Stephen then went
further and gave his reasons on each and every prize-winning group,
delivering a masterclass on judging and ring etiquette.

Exhibitors travelled the length and breadth of the country to support
this event which has grown to be the winter show of choice.

Male & overall
champion, Solway View Horny

The male & overall championship was awarded to Kevin Watret with
Solway View Horny a 12 month old bull calf who is one of the first
calves from the 2011
Royal Highland Show champion Solway
View Firecracker
(SR) ET. He is out of a female bought by Kevin as a foundation
cow, Balzer Dancing Queen, a Henlli Wishmaster daughter. Standing as
reserve male champion at the Great Yorkshire show this year, Kevin
plans to sell this bull at the Carlisle May sale this year. Alan Dickinson
brother of the late David Dickinson (official society auctioneer to
the British Blue Cattle Society 1989-2007) presented the David Dickinson
memorial trophy to Kevin Watret.

Judge, Stephen Brough had no hesitation in his choice; “A fantastic
bull, he carried fantastic length and style. He handles himself
extremely well and has a tremendous future ahead of him.”

Reserve overall
and female champion, Solway View Hotspot ET

Kevin Watret went on to take the reserve overall championship with
his female champion Solway
View Hotspot ET. A November born heifer
sired by Gib Van Het Negenbond IS and out of Maidenlands Crystal, a
Gitan Du Pti’t Mayeur daughter bought by Kevin at Carlisle in
2008. The BK Memorial Trophy for the reserve overall champion animal
was presented to Kevin Watret. They were also presented with the Bellas
trophy for the best animal opposite sex to the champion.

The young handler class was a very strong class with 9 competitors
competing for the trophy. It was won by Thomas Hartley leading Pendle Impretza. Elaine
& Mark Hartley awarded Thomas with the Pendle plaque. He was closely
followed by last year’s winner Josh Bellas leading Croftends
Izzy ET, with his little sister Holly Bellas a close 3rd leading
Croftends Honey ET.

Kevin Watret also won the Progeny group with two Solway
View Dynamite
ET calves. Solway
View Inferno (male) (1st in his class)
out of Bridgemuir Dolly ET and Solway
View Haribo ET (heifer) out of
Solway View Elegance
ET.

The reserve progeny group went to two Bringlee Volkawagon ET bred
bull calves shown by Blair & Shona Comrie, Stonebyres Harris ET
(4th in his class), and Stonebyres Hamish ET (5th in
his class).

The Norbreck
Genetics perpetual trophy for the breeder with the most
points was awarded to Kevin Watret (Solway
View Herd).